Things they tell us

They tell us that being anti-Zionist is entirely different from being anti-Semitic.

They tell us that the two have nothing in common.

Their message is so strong that in the recent reformulation of a new definition of anti-Semitism (which I discuss on my personal blog, here), disclaimers had to be made that indeed, not every criticism of Israel constitutes an act of anti-Semitism.

But how am I supposed to believe that anti-Zionism is any different, when there’s not a post to be found on social media pertaining to Jews that isn’t littered with at least one (but usually many more) #freepalestine or #BDS (or worse)?

How am I supposed to believe that anti-Zionism is anything other than a politically correct blanket over anti-Semitism, when every mention of a death or tragedy involving Jewish people invites comments like “this is payback for what they did to the Palestinians”?

How am I supposed to believe it’s different, when so called anti-Zionists express anger and resentment over Jews once again being allowed to visit or reside in certain Arab nations?

How am I supposed to believe it’s different, when it is considered “provocative” to speak Hebrew in public?

How am I supposed to believe it’s different, when Jews around the world are attacked during times of conflict between Israel and Palestine?

What fools do they take us for?

Zionist is a term used for Jews who consider Israel to be their homeland. But its actual meaning matters very little in the context. The term, in the context of those who are against it, is used broadly to refer to Israeli people, Jewish people, people who visit Israel, people who like Israel, people who like Jews and other similar groups of people. There is another word that describes hatred for all things Jewish: anti-Semitism.